Plush-toy salesman's son dropped out of Kalamazoo College, started own line of toy animals 1986. Beanie Babies ruled the lunchbox set for years with understuffed, affordable toys. Created buying mania by limiting production runs, assigning names and birth dates. Sales (est. $500 million) down sharply as Beanie Babies' popularity wanes, but investments in real estate appreciating nicely. Owns Four Seasons Hotel in New York, Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara, Calif. Also less glamorous office parks in Chicago. Recently completed construction on the Ty Warner Sea Center, also in Santa Barbara.